Amazing – 25/6/11

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.

 ~Mahatma Gandhi~

There is nothing quite as amazing as the pride of a child who has achieved something wonderful. It is even more amazing when this child has struggled through every single task ever given to him and has never lost his will to fight. And amazing are the lessons that can be learned from a 5 year old with a heart of gold and the spirit of a bird.

Today my second son received a PRO (People Respecting Others) Award. This award is based on strength of characters and each month a certain virtue is targeted. This month the virtue was perseverance and in his teachers words, my son was hands down the best candidate in his class.

My son has struggled greatly in kindergarten. He has severe fine and gross motor needs making routine tasks such as writing, cutting and gym very difficult for him. He has difficulty paying attention and sitting still, due to the frontal lobe seizure activity he still experiences and the medications that he is on. Routine activities, like hanging up his jacket are hard. Things we take for granted make his life a challenge but he is always up for it! He has an amazing full time aid to help guide him, as well as a kind caring teacher who has wanted to see him succeed. Both of these women have fallen in love with this brilliant boy.

When I was told that my son was getting this award I cried, the teacher cried and his assistant cried. His teacher told me that routine activities were so hard for him but he never ever gave up and always tried. They would know when he was tired and frustrated but he would always push through, not always completing the task or doing it the way the other kids did it but never ever giving up until he had given a valiant effort.

My son is my hero. He has the kindest heart you could ever know. He would literally take the shirt off of his back if you asked him for it. He loves animals and is intrigued by insects. He loves to cuddle and he laughs often. He has had more needles and tests than any 5 year old should ever endure and he always faces each one with a smile. He has had a steep slope to climb and still has a long way to go but he continues to fight forward, getting up each time he falls. He teaches us all a valuable lesson about life.

Today I watched as he was acknowledged for this effort and my heart burst with pride. The smile on his face could be seen from across the gym and it was filled with genuine happiness. At this moment, for him, he was special and although anyone who meets this brilliant boy with a heart of gold knows just how special he is, this was his moment to shine! I am blessed with 4 amazing children and it is these moments that make anything negative worthwhile. Although he has a long road ahead of him, my boy is going to move mountains one day!!